Psy. 425 Fall 2010
Maria Hess PhD, MFT
Office Hours: Stevenson 3083. Tuesdays 11 – 12:30, alternate Wednesdays
12 – 2:00 and Thursdays 1 – 2:30. Please sign up for an appointment on my
office door.
Contact Information: SSU: 664-2413. Private office: 824 – 9902.
Email: maria.hess@sonoma.edu
ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
“The wholeness of the body is organic meaning that if one part of the body
suffers the whole body suffers. The same is true of the psyche or personality. If
a portion of our true nature is denied, we suffer throughout.”
Healing and Wholeness - John Sanford
Course Description: In this course we will study the broad spectrum of mental
and behavioral disorders. Emphasis will be placed on diagnosis, assessment and
etiology using the DSM IV, the text, lecture, guest speakers, discussion and
contemporary videos, as our guides.
Course Goals: The broader goals for this class are that you as a student will:
* Develop a basic understanding of several emotional disturbances and their
etiologies.
* Experience working in small groups to enhance learning.
* Develop a working relationship with the DSM IV as a diagnostic tool.
* Learn the importance of culture and diversity in assessment.
* Gain experience with compassion, identifying and assessing various mental
disorders.
* Relax and have fun learning interesting stuff.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course you should be able to:
1. Describe different theories and concepts about the development and course of
abnormal behavior.
2. Use the multiaxial coding system of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
3. Differentiate between Axis I and Axis II symptomology and diagnoses.
4. Diagnose psychological disorders from case studies (films and written).
5. Synthesize culturally contextual factors with diagnostic assessment.
6. List and define concepts and terms that represent the shared language of
mental health practice.
7. Demonstrate interactive competence with the use of the Mental Status Exam.
Grading: You will be graded on an A-F basis, with no incompletes. Grades are
based on: (1) 6 quizzes on reading (20 points each), (2) two in-class essay
exams based on in-class material (50 pts each), (3) weekly assessment of case
studies using the Mental Status Exam and the DSM IV-TR axial code (10 pts
each), (4) case presentation paper (100 pts.), (5) attendance and participation
(20 pts). Total course points = 400
Assignments
#1. Quizzes: Quizzes will be based on your reading, in class discussions, films,
and the material reported from groups. Students will work in pairs and small
groups to develop questions for the quizzes. (20 pts. each X 6= 120 pts.) (#1,6)
#2. In-class Essays: Two in-class essays will be given on the dates indicated
below. You will have 60 minutes to show your concise understanding of the
lecture and diagnostic material overviewed in class. These essays will not be
focused on your assigned reading, but doing your reading will give you a deeper
breadth and scope of the in-class material that you will be asked to address.
(50 pts. each X 2= 100 pts.) (#1,2,3,4,5,6)
#3. Case study assessments: You will watch movies whose characters will
become your “clients” for the purpose of assessing mental disorders using the
DSM. You will decide in your small groups in class the diagnosis of your person
and will need to complete a Mental Status Exam and a DSM IV worksheet on
each. You will receive 10 pts. for each explicated pair of DSM assessment and
MSE sheets you hand in for every movie. (10 pts. each X 6 movies = 60 pts.)
(#2,3,4,5,6,7)
#4. The Case Presentation Paper is the cumulative work for the semester. The
student is invited to: Take a person you are fascinated by; someone from history,
a fictional character, an athlete, a performer, yourself, or a client, and present
them two ways: (1) Subjectively- so the reader may have a sense of the person
from the inside. What is it like to be them? (2) Objectively- a clinical presentation
of the same person. Include and present identifying data, dynamic formulation
and DSM IV diagnosis.
An important aspect of this assignment is how you show your understanding
of the material by using citations to reference the course material that supports
your learning. You may reference the professor only if the reference comes from
lecture alone, theoretical referencing must come from primary or secondary
sources.
Most students are challenged by this assignment, as it demands an
integration of clinical, academic, and personal understanding. You are welcome
to make an appointment with the instructor or the TA’s if you have questions or
concerns.
It is highly recommended that you do not wait until the last minute to attempt
this project. It will command some effort on your part! The quality of writing is
included in the overall grading of your work. Please use the Writing Center to
address some of the concerns you may have regarding your writing skills. Due:
Dec. 2 (100 pts.), 8 - 10 pages, proof read, double-spaced, include citations and
references, no more than 2 web-based citations, use APA format.
(#1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
LATE PAPERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
#5. Attendance and Participation: Since participation in assessment and
learning groups is such an integral part of this experience, your attendance plays
an important part in your learning. In addition, I do not lecture off of your reading
material making the in-class information, once missed, difficult to recapture.
Students are responsible for retrieving the learning of a missed class. Tardies
and early departures will affect your grade. You are allowed one absence (for
ANY reason) after which you will be docked five points for each. As this is an
upper division, MA preparatory course, students are expected to come prepared
to class. Each student is required to do the reading and view the assigned video
by the date indicated on the syllabus. Attendance and participation are 20 pts. for
the course. (#1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
Classroom Environment: Unless exempted by signed documentation from
Student Disability Services, the use of a laptop is prohibited. Please turn off your
cell phones and any other digital assists. Text messaging, answering cell
phones, or other electronic distractions are not acceptable in class and will
not be tolerated. You are welcome to bring drinks, but eating is not
appreciated in the classroom. Please inform the instructor if you plan to audio
record. No video recording allowed.
Required Texts:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders, Fourth Ed.: Text Revised
American Psychiatric Association.
Abnormal Psychology (Fourth edition) Barlow and Durand (B & D).
The handouts for this class are available on my homepage:
www.sonoma.edu/users/h/hessm. Handouts are also available at the reserve
desk in the library.
* The ease of your learning will be greatly enhanced by doing the assigned
reading.
Strongly Recommended Texts:
Drama of the Gifted Child Alice Miller
Object Relations and Self Psychology Michael St. Clair
Trauma and Recovery Judith Herman
Academic Integrity: It is the responsibility of each student to be apprised of the
requirements of the psychology department and university regarding academic
honesty. You are expected to know what constitutes plagiarism. The parameters
are outlined in your student handbook and online at
http://www.sonoma.edu/psychology/AcademicHonestyPolicy.html.
Access for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities and require
classroom accommodations should meet with me (within the first 2 weeks of
class) during my office hours to make these arrangements. Please bring
accommodations authorization from the Disability Resource Center with you.
Reading and Video Schedule: Include in your reading the corollary text in the
DSM. All videos are available at your local video store, SSU media center, or
from Netflix.
Wk 1. Aug. 26 Introductions; Syllabus as container.
Discussion/lecture: What is Abnormal Behavior? On Suffering.
2. Sept. 2 B & D; Ch. 1-3. Handout: The Dictionary of Disorder.
Discussion/lecture: Remedy, Cure, Healing. Assessment, Intuition, Perception, &
Guessing. Good Belly. Creating questions
3.
Quiz #1
9 B & D; Ch. 13. DSM intro - pg.37. Introduction to the DSM.
4.
16 B & D; Ch. 12. Handout: Theory of parent-infant relationship.
Creating questions
5.
23 B & D; Ch. 4. Handout: Out of the Ashes. Quiz #2
6.
30 B & D: Ch. 9. Handout: Scars that Don’t Heal.. Creating
questions
7. Oct. 7 In-class assessment: Lars and the Real Girl (Lars). Quiz #3.
Course Review
8.
14 B & D; Ch.11. In-class essay #1.
In-class assessment: This Boy’s Life (Dwight) Creating Questions.
9.
21 B & D; Ch.14. Handout: The Narcissistic Parent. In- class
assessment: Ordinary People (Beth) Quiz #4
10 .
28
B & D; Ch. 7. Creating Questions
11. Nov. 4 B & D; Ch. 5 & 6.In-class assessment: Reign Over Me
(Charlie). Quiz #5
12.
11 Veteran’s Day No Class!
13.
18 B & D; Ch.16. In-class assessment: American History X (Derek)
Creating Questions
14.
25 Thanksgiving Break
15. Dec. 2 B & D: Ch. 8 & 15. In-class assessment: Memento (Leonard)
Quiz #6. Case Presentation Paper due.
16.
9 B & D: Ch.10 Course Review
17. Final: Dec. 16 5 – 6:50 In-class essay #2. Finish up and good-bye.